What cameras will you bring for the holidays?

[TheToadMen]

I'm going to Italy this year for the first time with my family. I can't pack too much so I think I'll take with me some smaller cameras this year:
* Hasselblad SWC (from 1964)
* Nikon FM3A with 45/2.8P lens
* RealitiySoSubtle 6x17 (pinhole camera)
* Agfa Clack
* maybe my Yashica Mat 124-G?
* lots and lots of films ...

So I'm leaving the big boys at home this year: Bronica GS-1, Mamiya C330f (with several lenses), Mamiya RB67 and my Nikon F5.

 

[grahamp]

I look at the travel logistics (portability, security) and intent of the trip (family events, photo side trips, business). Drive or fly? Driving I will consider a 5x4; flying I will take roll film. Experience has told me that I'm likely to do more with less when traveling for reasons other than photography. The minimum is a 6x4.5 rangefinder, with maybe a YashicaMat backup. Middle of the road is the Mamiya 6, and at the top end is the 5x4 with full size tripod. Sometimes the Zero Image pinhole or the Horizont gets a chance. The Horizont is 35mm, so that means another size of film.

Everyone has to find their own balance point between flexibility and logistics. I probably lean towards the minimalist camp.

 

[darkosaric]

I will bring M6 with summicron 50mm, and Diana F.

 

[Theo Sulphate]

...
Everyone has to find their own balance point between flexibility and logistics. I probably lean towards the minimalist camp.

Indeed. I'm always amazed at the amount of photographic gear many people take. I like to travel light and unencumbered, so I will take one 35mm camera and one lens. I used to take two cameras, but that second one was an XA2. I did this even for long international trips.

 

[wilper]

Yashica C, lightmeter, one roll of film per day.

 

[mooseontheloose]

I'll be returning to my original travel set-up, that is: Nikon FE with 50mm and 28mm, Minolta Autocord, and a Holga. My back literally cannot handle any more.

 

[macfred]

My holidays set-up :
- FUJI GW670iii
- FUJI GA645Wi
- ND filters 0.3 + 0.6
- Yellow filters
- Gossen lightmeter
- Linhoff monopod
- Ektar 100, Portra 160/400, T-Max 100, Tri-X 400

--
The lady of the house -more reasonable- carries her beloved Nikon F301 (N2000) with Nikkor 20mm f/3.5 AIs and Nikkor 45mm f/2.8P, Provia F100 slide film (unchanged set-up for about 25 years ).

 

[Sirius Glass]

I have taken a Hasselblad with the 80mm and 50mm to Europe and I have carried two Nikons to Europe with zoom lenses. Either way I can shoot black & white and color by changing backs or cameras. I have gotten great photographs either way but the Hasselblad photographs are usually much better and easier to handle and enlarge. The weight is about the same either way.

 

[MartinCrabtree]

Nikon F5 along with the FM2n and appropriate glass/accessories for the trip.

 

[MattKing]

Mamiya 645 Pro with two backs (E100 and Plus-X) and two lenses.

Not sure which lens pair - 55mm + 110mm (+ extension tube) or 45mm + 80mm macro.

Plus a Canon EOS Elan 7n for my wife - with EF 22-55 and 28-85 zoom lenses.

The EF 22-55 isn't great in the corners, but it is such a tiny package with such a handy zoom range.

 

[NedL]

The past few summers always 1 camera 1 lens and always happy. If I was going to Italy I would struggle with the decision and probably would not bring only one.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

Nikon Coolpix.light and excellent image quality

 

[jeffreyg]

Where in Italy are you going and what do you like to photograph? I would take the camera that you have a wide angle and short tele lens for. A camera backpack that will hold what you take would come in very handy as well as a tripod if possible. I have been to Italy several times and there is a wealth of material to shoot. I take two Hasselblad bodies, a 50mm, 150mm and 2x, a spot meter and a carbon fiber tripod. The cameras plus film and other goodies fit in the backpack which fits in the overhead compartment along with the tripod. I use the same film in both bodies so I don't have to change lenses except if using the 2x. in my checked luggage I take an empty daypack to carry only what I would need when walking around in a city. Otherwise we are driving and the rest of the gear is with me in the car. You might rethink the Mamiya with a couple of lenses or as suggested as they say on DPUG a small digital.

http://www.jeffreyglasser.com/

 

[Bob Carnie]

What are holidays?

 

[Ian Grant]

What are holidays?

Something you've forgotten Bob

I have this problem (what cameras to take) when I visit Canada in a couple of months for a wedding. My gut instinct is to take a 5x4 kit, tripod etc, as we have a week in the Rockies, but I'll probably just take a Rolleiflex. Maybe I'll pick up some LF gear while in Calgary

Ian

 

[Dali]

Indeed. I'm always amazed at the amount of photographic gear many people take. I like to travel light and unencumbered, so I will take one 35mm camera and one lens. I used to take two cameras, but that second one was an XA2. I did this even for long international trips.

Same thing here. The lighter the better: A MF rangefinder or a 35mm SLR camera + a couple of lenses (28 + 50mm).

 

[Bob Carnie]

Something you've forgotten Bob

I have this problem (what cameras to take) when I visit Canada in a couple of months for a wedding. My gut instinct is to take a 5x4 kit, tripod etc, as we have a week in the Rockies, but I'll probably just take a Rolleiflex. Maybe I'll pick up some LF gear while in Calgary

Ian

If you are in Toronto visit me Ian

 

[darkosaric]

What are holidays?

6 weeks when you don't work, but you get extra 50% of salary, so that you can travel !

 

[Bob Carnie]

6 weeks when you don't work, but you get extra 50% of salary, so that you can travel !

Sign me up. oops what is a salary?

 

[Ko.Fe.]

Agree on "what are holidays", hard to get any here and be able to travel with family. Next to impossible after all of the taxes are paid.

One small camera with one lens to take pictures. No difference from everyday camera.
Smaller, simpler, lighter, cheaper camera as backup. The only difference for travel.

 

[M Carter]

So much of this is "will I really use it" and "will I really have it with me when I see something".

I'm musing a trip to Ireland to specifically shoot ruins and landscapes, with lots of IR. I'm thinking of getting a 645 setup and carbon tripod for specific shooting trips. Some sort of 6x6 folder to keep with me. Spotmeter and iPhone for metering. And I really have a nonsensical love of my Himatic 7s, so that might be with me as much as possible. She's like that girlfriend some part of you said "why her??" but you could never dump her. Shot my avatar pic with it in a NYC blizzard. Amazing IQ for an eBay "build one camera from 3" eBay rescue.

Problem with this scenario - I own an RB with 6 or 7 lenses, a 4x5 Cambo, and various 35 setups with lots of Nikkors. I'd have to spend some bucks before I even bought my ticket! I'd love to take the RB and a big backpack, but... man, that's heavy.

 

[TheToadMen]

Indeed. I'm always amazed at the amount of photographic gear many people take. I like to travel light and unencumbered, so I will take one 35mm camera and one lens. I used to take two cameras, but that second one was an XA2. I did this even for long international trips.

Same thing here. The lighter the better: A MF rangefinder or a 35mm SLR camera + a couple of lenses (28 + 50mm).

You're probably right, but it's also fun to use different cameras during the holidays. And I've got room for one photo bag with 3 or 4 cameras (depending on size).

I'll do landscape, sceneries and street photography mostly (villages, some mountains and the sea??). So if I had to take one light camera it should probably be my Leica M7 with 3 small lenses (35 + 50mm Leica and 15 mm Voigtländer) and my Leica M4-2 as a backup. Or only my Bronica RF-645 with two lenses. But then, I love to use the 38 mm on the Hasselblad SWC too, and ....

 

[frank]

If I were you Bert, from your camera list I'd take the SWC for sure, the Bronica RF, a 35mm SLR or RF camera, and a 35mm point and shoot type of camera.

 

[Andrew O'Neill]

Going on a road trip to Saskatchewan in a few days. Tackling The Big Muddy. Taking everything, except the 14x17. 35mm, RB67, Canham 8x10 and 4x5 backs, Travelwide with pinhole attachment. Film: HP5 (35mm, 120, 4x5, 8x10), FP4 (120, 4x5), Tmax 100 (8x10), TMY-2 (120), Rollei IR (4x5), Efke IR (8x10).
Did I forget anything?? Oh ya, maybe a few sheets of X-ray! Maybe I will take the 14x17...

 

[TheToadMen]

Going on a road trip to Saskatchewan in a few days. Tackling The Big Muddy. Taking everything, except the 14x17. 35mm, RB67, Canham 8x10 and 4x5 backs, Travelwide with pinhole attachment. Film: HP5 (35mm, 120, 4x5, 8x10), FP4 (120, 4x5), Tmax 100 (8x10), TMY-2 (120), Rollei IR (4x5), Efke IR (8x10).
Did I forget anything?? Oh ya, maybe a few sheets of X-ray! Maybe I will take the 14x17...

Now you're talking!!

Oh, and bring some colour film for the pinhole camera too. You'll like it.